my latest tweets! 
A 19.7 metre (more than 60’) long Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) that live-stranded in Courtmacsherry, West Cork unfortunately died after being beached by a rapidly receding tide.
For full details see the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) article on the stranding.
Here are some of the photographs I managed to snap in very low light during the few minutes we had around the whale before the tide raced in and cut us off. I might have stayed a bit longer, but we had the children with us, so didn’t want to risk it. It was also raining, and the camera was getting soaked 
.
These were 4-8 second exposures, and turned out reasonably well, all things considered.
It was absolutely amazing to see such a huge creature up close… but nothing on seeing them alive in their element on one of the Whale Watching trips off West Cork.
Fabulous first picture, but a desperately sad sight.
Majestic creatures, really look forward to taking in a whale watching trip in the summer.
Thanks Michael,
Yes, a very sad sight, but breathtaking despite the pathos.
Seeing them cruising at sea is really something… but the best time of year is really from late October/early November until round about now.
The big whales depart these shores during the warmer (and I use the term loosely) months. There are still plenty of dolphins, and the occasional smaller whales like minke’s to be seen… but for the fins and humpbacks you have to pick a good day in the winter and be prepared to face the chill.
Shot from a tripod? Awful thing to happen but great pictures. I took a photo of a small beached whale on Garrettstown Beach a few years ago and it was a very sad experience. This magnificent animal dead on the beach with us humans poking and gaping at it.
http://inphotos.org/beached-whale/
[...] 1: Great Pics from Anthony Spooky Pics from Calvin Main Info [...]
Yes, Doncha,
My wife said I was mad lugging the Manfroto 055ProB out with me, particularly as I had to carry the little one on my shoulders too a lot of the the time… glad I insisted though. No way you could have hand held, and flash would have destroyed the shots.
Conor — thanks for the link back
Thanks for the pictures. These magnificent creatures are so intelligent. It’s always a sad day when one sick and washes ashore. We see them often here in the Gulf of Maine….but not of that size. Thanks for sharing… Sandy… Maine, USA
The late evening light and long exposure add to the poignancy. I heard one of the “experts” say something on the news that the whale was not in very good shape before hand. I got the impression that he felt that the whale had ditched intentionally.
Great shots!
I know this is a big thing to some people but i think its disgrace that people are letting their kids touch the whale when they dont know what it died off & now people are arguing over who it belongs to & what they ae going to do with the remains, it doesnt belong to anyone so just bury it & get on with your sad little lives.
Thanks for the comments.
Mel, I think you’re missing the point a bit on this. It is a big thing, as it’s such a rare occurrence, and probably the only chance in our lifetime to get close to one of these magnificent creatures.
If you’d been there, and experienced the sense of awe, wonder and respect children and their parents had in the presence of this oceanic leviathan, I can’t help thinking you might be singing a different tune.
There is a disturbing disconnect between children today and the natural world around them. Seeing children engaging with nature in a hands on way, asking questions and generally enthralled, was heartening indeed.
To my mind we need to encourage a far more hands-on approach to nature in our children — and it was great to see so many Cork families doing just that. The animal died, and that’s unfortunate. But if some good comes of it: if a child’s curiosity is piqued, and they’re inspired to learn more, then surely that’s a positive thing.
great shots ..saw it being carved up today
Fantastic photos, got down there late friday evening just as it was getting dark. Majestic creature, I was very saddened by the sight of him. His tail was missing by the time we got there as they had tried to move him. My ten year old and his buddy thought it was an amazing sight. So unfortunate that he died. But my god what a sight.
What a sad sight. Beautiful photos. Reminds one of one’s insignificance.
[...] the autopsy of the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) that stranded in Courtmacsherry bay in West Cork back in January is going to be shown in a new Channel 4 series called Inside Nature’s [...]